Improvement in apparatus for separating alcohol from whisky



A. V. H. WEBB.

"Alcohol Still.

Patented Aug. 28, 1841.

UNITED STATES PATENT UrricE.

AUG. v. H. WEBB, or NEW YORK, N. .Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ALCOHOL FROM WHlSKY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,234, dated August 28, 1841. I

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGS. V. H. WEBB, of the city, county, and State of NcwYork, have invented a new and useful apparatus whereby the affinitive properties of alkalies can be applied more effectually than by any other mode as yet discovered; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and opera tion of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of long straight cylinders with a peculiar internal construction at their base by the formation of arack therein, which supports the ingredients with which the cylinders are charged, but creates no obstacle to the free passage of the liquids through them.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct straight cylinders (open at both ends) of any given length and diameter, according to the scale of operatiomwhich cylinders may be constructed of wood, tin, iron, or other material, at the bottom of which (internally) 1 construct a rack, which is intended ,to support and prevent the ingredient with which said cylinders are filled from fallingI through into the reservoirs, on which they rest. I charge said cylinders with a solid ingredient prepared from an alkali possessing the strongest affinitive properties by dropping the larger lumps into them first, (which lumps are supported by the rack) until at foundation is formed. I then add lumps of a smaller size, and so continue to add smaller and smaller lumps until the cylinders are about one-half filled, then fill up with fine or even pulverized. Previous to charging said cylinders I place them on their respective resvervoirs, as shown by the accompanying drawthe water and vegetable oil is passed through the spirit-cock into a second straight upright cylinder, being about the same dimensions, .(see Fig. 2,) which cylinder is let into, rests upon the top of, by a projecting flange, and discharges itself into reservoir 0. The balance of the spirit, being set free from the oil and water, as before described, is drawn off through the spiritcock into reservoir D in the form of very high proof or nearly absolute alcohol, being entirely free from the es sential or vegetable oils. The cocks represented at the base of reservoirs B and 0 discharge the alkali or water and oil from time to time as they accumulate during the operation into reservoir E, 'thus completing the separation of the water from the spirit and the spirit entire from the essential or vegetable oils, presenting three distinct and sepa rate liquids-to wit, water or alkali, essential or vegetable oil, and neutral spirits.

Fig. 3 represents the rack, which is made of stout iron wires or other material placed about one inch apart, and crossing at right angles in one or more rows, which rack is attached to the internal base of each cylinder and tends I to support theafiinitiveingredients contained in the cylinders, while at the same time creates no obstrnct-ion to the passage of the liquids through them. The scale of operation may be increased by the addition of more cylinders placed on the same reservoirs.

I do not claim as my invention rectifying spirits or whisky by means of carbonate of potash, chloride of calcium, orany other chemica-l agent herein referred to having a strong affinity for waters, the same having been already employed for this purpose; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The manner in which I employ the substances referred to for this purpose, in connection with the cylinders and reservoirs attached to themthat is to say, I claim rectifying ardent spirits by means of one or more vertical cylinders filled with a substance having a strong affinity for water, through which the liquor is allowed to filter, combined with the reservoirs, on which said cylinders rest, provided with separate faucets for letting off the water and alcohol, all as herein set forth.

AUGUSTUS v. H. WEBB.

\Vitnesses:

G. GAY, Jenn ConYnLL. 

